Attica Batavia Alexander, NY (Buffalo, Rochester: real estate, houses, buy) - New York - City-Data Forum

Rascal58 · 07-27-2006, 10:01 PM

Looking for general info on life in this area...which town is preferable for home prices, taxes, schools, travel in the winter...etc. What is the average snowfall amounts in December, January, February? How are the roads in winter? Any info is appreciated!

Mollikins · 07-28-2006, 08:07 AM

I have relatives that have lived in Alexander for many years. They have been "snowbirds" for the past 15 yrs as they are getting older & the kids have left the nest.

Because of the lake effect snow -- there is significant snowfall in that area. Unfortuantely I can't comment on the rest of your questions.

It is beautiful country, though. Lots of rolling pastural land & very scenic.

Hope this helped alittle !

just_sayin' · 07-28-2006, 10:52 AM

I was born and raised in WNY in the Rochester area; yes, snow is abundant there's no doubt about that. Property taxes are pretty high, but houses are VERY affordable. In small towns like those you can get a 4 bedroom 2 bath house for under $100k. And yes, as mollikinis said, it's a very beautiful setting.

Rascal58 · 07-28-2006, 08:10 PM

Thanks for your help. I am familiar with the Fingerlakes region and wonder if the snow is equivalent or greater in Attica. Any comments are welcome!

heathersmom · 07-29-2006, 06:31 PM

Well, where do I start- Attica is home to 2 prisons- but it is a sleepy town with a railroad running through it. We live 20 miles or so from there. The school has one of the best marching bands in NY- they made it to the Orange Parade last year or the year before- it is a large band- but well worth the wait to see them in the local parades. Batavia is a small city- you have to try Olivers Chocolate and That Taco Place-2 of our favorite stops. Batavia tried to make a go of their raceway again (horses) but it didn't fly so now it is a Casino (of sorts)- all slots and OTB. There is a local 2 year college Genesee Community College-a Home Depot, a regular Wal-Mart, Kmart, BJ's and Applebys. They get alot of snow- we came through there on our way home from Florida (Buffalo airport) in March and had to pull over to wait until it cleared a little- noted we are Western NY's born and bred-Batavia is right smack in the snow belt. The schools are improving- check out the demographics. Alexander is between Batavia and Attica. It is a town you stop at a blinking light and drive through-not much there except nice houses, a pizza place, a gas station, motorcycle shop and feed store. They have a nice little carnival (that just ended) and a nice suburban school. No stores to shop tho- you travel to Batavia or Attica. Batavia also had/has a mall-it has been redone over to include a few reginoal offices but it still has an old theatre and a JC Penney store. A YMCA is also there.
Attica has a bad road called Route 238- this is a bad wide open (fields) road that no one likes to travel in the winter...if I had to relocate to either of these 3 towns I would pick the outer banks Attica-so that my kids could go to Alexander school(1) but have Attica close by for the 1 grocery store and library. Attica is a little pricer because of the prison gaurds and their homes. I wouldn't buy right in town unless you want to hear the prison and/or train all the time. The rpison can be heard near the main. You could look up interesting info on the Attica riots.
Hope this all helps-good luck on your adventure...

Rascal58 · 08-06-2006, 11:39 AM

Thank you Heathersmom! You have been most helpful. I am aware of the prisons and the history of the riot. I didnt know about the shopping etc. in the area. My family is grown so schools are not really a factor in my decision making. I have been to the area and my initial impression was that I would be wiser to stay closer to the thruway...Batavia area...due to the snow...and drive to work in Attica. I am re-thinking that after your message. Thanks for the tip about staying away from Rt 238...imagine if I had bought a home right off that road. I would have been very unhappy. Thanks so much!

heathersmom · 08-08-2006, 11:13 AM

I have been in the ditch a few times on Rt. 238 so I can attest to the snow fall--its mainly because of the open fields which are nice in the fall, spring and summer--but in the winter they drift through the road. Batavia gets hit too though- check their snow falls if you can- the thru way to Attica? I never thoguht of it that way because its just a town and 1/2 over...back roads though. You would only have to worry about snowfall from late December until mid march- earlier or later than that may give you icy conditions but no snow. Good luck

elizamoose · 07-08-2007, 08:08 AM

Hi! I just by chance, trying to see when the Alexander parade and carnival is this year, saw this post. I thought I would spontaneously reply since I live in the area... here are my thoughts...

Attica: County living, small town, everyone knows everyone, Attica Prison is located here, cheap to moderate living with low to moderate taxes ($2500/yr +), south of Batavia, very nice town, good schools, snow may be a factor since most roads out of the town run north-south when then winds and snow come from the west, main route is Rte. 238.

Batavia: City living, city-ish town, out-skirts are ok, mixed demographic population, this is where everyone goes to shop because this is the closest "big city" from Buffalo, LOTS of traffic lights (ie. one every 500-1000 ft), the city of Batavia is raising the property taxes (current taxes seem to be in the $2500-3500 range already), there are a lot of small businesses in Batavia, a Martins Food Store, WalMart, KMart, BJs, Home Depot, Office Max, Radio Shack, a mall that is barely inhabited - the only thing that is saving it is a SMALL JCPennys and a SMALL movie theater and office buildings inside. I wouldn't suggest living in Batavia CITY... I would sort of suggest living in the TONW (out-skirts) of Batavia, since it is a city the roads are pretty well plowed, major routes going into/exititng Batavia are 98, 63, 33 and 5, has a thruway exit (48A)

Alexander: Country living, cheap to moderate living with low to moderate taxes as well, main route to Alexander is Rte. 98 which is a north-south running road as well, very nice town, good schools, south of Batavia, has a small town and lots of country-style out-skirts, closer to Batavia than Attica, I like Alexander better than Attica, but that is my personal opinion (no offense Atticans!)

I would highly suggest the Pembroke/Corfu area, as well as Darien, NY. These areas are a little more west than what you are looking, but I think it is better living... it isn't so cramped, living is more "free", I have lived in the Pembroke/Corfu area for over 15 years. I am turning 27 and there is plenty for me to do... Darien Lake Theme Park (used to be Six Flags) is right down the road from Pembroke/Corfu and Darien by 5-10 minutes depending where you live... Galleria Mall in Cheektowaga is only 20-25 minutes away via thruway... Batavia is only 20-25 minutes away... the thuway is located in Pembroke (exit 48)... Medina and Lake Erie are only 20-30 minutes north/northwest

If you are looking for a real estate agent, contact Robert Gerace of Bob Harris Realty, office 585-343-8366, website www. bobharrisrealty .com (without the spaces, of course - wouldn't do the link properly here the other way)

These are just my thoughts and opinions... I am currently house hunting in the Pembroke/Corfu/Darien/Batavia outskirts/Alexander/LeRoy/Stafford/Byron areas, so I kinda know what is out there... but again these are my opinions.

I hope this helped you. I will check back for replies every so often to see if I can help more.

Good luck!
Elizamoose

elizamoose · 07-08-2007, 08:09 AM

Crud, I just realized the post was created in 7/06, not 7/07... oh well... I still hope that I helped someone out there! LOL

The716 · 07-08-2007, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elizamoose

Crud, I just realized the post was created in 7/06, not 7/07... oh well... I still hope that I helped someone out there! LOL

hehe, its funny to me that this one even showed up on the NY forum... don't know that I would dig that deep, only on a search maybe... I graduated from Attica High School in the 70's...and, I'll bet that the data from last year is the same as it is this year... one of the charms of WNY... the prison riot was a fluke, a lottery thing... shouldn't affect Anyone's decision to move there... and, you're right, its a "everybody knows everybody" kind of town... snow? No problemo... one word: Snowmobiles. More fun than... well, no, but, right up there.